⁍ The proposal aims to curb Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
⁍ The bill would need congressional approval and is not likely to see action until next year at the earliest.
⁍ It was not immediately clear whether the Justice Department will support any single piece of legislation already out there.
– The Justice Department is proposing major changes to the legal immunity that internet companies enjoy under the Communications Decency Act, Reuters reports. Section 230 of the act allows companies such as Google and Facebook to shield themselves from liability over content posted by users. The proposal unveiled Wednesday by the Justice Department states that internet companies “willfully distribute illegal material or moderate content in bad faith” and Section 230 “should not shield them from the consequences of their actions.” Attorney General William Barr says the department is urging Congress to “make these necessary reforms to Section 230 and begin to hold online platforms accountable both when they unlawfully censor speech and when they knowingly facilitate egregious criminal activity online.” The proposal is not expected to see action until next year at the earliest.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-internet/update-2-us-justice-department-proposes-changes-to-internet-platforms-immunity-idUSL2N2GK0NB